What is suspicion? Pronunciation and usage in English

suspicion means . Learn how to pronounce and use suspicion through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of suspicion

suspicionnoun

/səˈspɪʃn/
Definition & pronunciation of suspicion

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "suspicion" in English. Here's a breakdown and a few ways to approach it:

1. The Core Sounds:

  • sus-: This part sounds like "sus" as in "suspect." It's a short, quick "s" sound.
  • -pi-: This part sounds like "pee" as in "picture." It’s a clear, short "ee" sound.
  • -cion: This is the trickiest part. It’s pronounced like “shuhn.” It's a blend of “sh” and “un.”

2. Full Pronunciation:

Putting it all together, it sounds like: “sus-pi-shuhn”

3. Phonetic Spelling (for extra clarity):

  • /səˈspɪʃən/ (This is how it would appear in a phonetic transcription)

    • sə - like the “s” in “sugar” (a short “uh” sound)
    • ˈspɪ - emphasis on this syllable, like "spy"
    • ʃən - the "sh" sound, followed by "uhn" (like "fun" but with a "sh" in front)

4. Tips for Pronunciation:

  • Stress: The primary stress is on the second syllable: “sus-pi-shuhn”.
  • "Sh" sound: Don't muffle the "sh" sound. Make it distinct.
  • "Un" sound: The "uhn" at the end is a short, unstressed vowel. It's not a long "oo" sound.

Resources for Hearing it:

Would you like me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation slowly?
  • Focus on a particular part of the word (e.g., the "shuhn" part)?

Usage and examples with the word suspicion in English

Let's break down how to use the word "suspicion" effectively in English. It's a versatile word with a few different nuances.

1. As a Noun (The Basic Meaning: A Feeling or Belief)

  • Definition: A feeling that someone or something is not what it seems; a doubt or uncertainty about someone's character, motives, or actions.

  • Examples:

    • "I have a suspicion that he’s lying." (I doubt his honesty.)
    • "There was a general suspicion in the village about the newcomers." (People weren't sure about their intentions.)
    • "The detective's suspicion fell on the butler." (He started to doubt the butler's innocence.)
    • “She voiced her suspicion that the company was involved in illegal activities.” (She had a doubt about the company’s actions)

2. As a Verb (To Doubt or Believe Something Badly)

  • Definition: To have a feeling that something is wrong or that someone is guilty, often without proof.

  • Examples:

    • "I suspect him of stealing the money." (I think he did it, even if I don’t have definite proof.) - Note: “Suspect” is a more common and often preferred verb.
    • "The police suspected a connection between the two crimes.” (They believed the crimes were linked.)
    • "She suspected he was hiding something." (She doubted he was being completely open with her.)

3. Nuances & Related Words

  • Grounds for suspicion: Reasons or evidence that cause someone to be suspicious. "There were grounds for suspicion when he was seen leaving the bank with a large bag."

  • Heighten suspicion: To increase or make stronger someone's suspicion. “The witness’s testimony heightened suspicion about the defendant’s involvement.”

  • Suspicious behavior: Actions that make people think something is wrong. "His constant checking of his phone was suspicious behavior."

  • Suspicion arises: A feeling of suspicion develops. "Suspicion arose when the accountant was found with the missing funds in his account."

  • Lack of suspicion: The absence of suspicion (not believing anything is wrong). “Despite the strange noises, there was a lack of suspicion among the residents.”

4. Important Distinctions: "Suspicion" vs. "Doubt"

While related, they're not exactly the same:

  • Doubt: A general uncertainty or questioning of something's truth or reliability. "I doubt he'll be on time." (Simply questioning his punctuality.)
  • Suspicion: A specific feeling that something is wrong, often involving a negative judgment about someone’s character or motives. "I have a suspicion he's hiding something." (More pointed and suggesting wrongdoing.)

Tips for Using "Suspicion" Effectively:

  • Show, don't tell: Instead of just saying "I had a suspicion," describe why you had that suspicion. “I noticed he avoided eye contact and kept looking at his watch, which gave me a feeling that he was hiding something.”
  • Use “suspect” more often: “Suspect” is generally a more common and natural-sounding verb than “suspect” (as a noun).
  • Consider the context: Make sure the word fits the situation. Is it a mild feeling of unease, or a strong belief of wrongdoing?

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What are you trying to write or say that you want to use the word “suspicion” in? (e.g., a story, an email, etc.)

Synonyms for the word suspicion

Idioms of the word suspicion

above/beyond suspicion
too good, honest, etc. to have done something wrong, illegal or dishonest
  • Nobody who was near the scene of the crime is above suspicion.
  • They thought the head teacher was beyond suspicion.
the finger of blame/suspicion
if the finger of blame/suspicion points or is pointed at somebody, they are suspected of having committed a crime, being responsible for something, etc.
  • The inquiry pointed the finger of blame at the driver of the crashed coach.
  • The finger of suspicion was pointed at the chicken served for lunch.
under suspicion (of something)
suspected of doing something wrong, illegal or dishonest
  • The whole family is currently under suspicion of her murder.
  • A number of doctors came under suspicion of unethical behaviour.
  • He fell under suspicion of tax evasion.

Practice with vocabulary suspicion

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The sudden, unexplained resignation of the project manager immediately raised a great deal of _____________ among the team members.
  2. Despite the presented evidence, many scientists maintained a healthy _____________ about the unverified claims, demanding more rigorous testing.
  3. The auditor found several inconsistencies in the financial reports, leading to a strong _____________ of fraud within the department.
  4. Entering the negotiation room, the CEO felt a sense of _____________ about the proposed merger, unsure if the terms were truly beneficial.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. Which of the following words best describes the feeling of unease or lack of trust someone might have about a person or situation without concrete proof? a) certainty b) conviction c) suspicion d) assurance

  2. When a government official makes an unsubstantiated claim about a new policy, what is the public most likely to feel or engage in? a) celebration b) endorsement c) skepticism d) belief e) speculation

  3. After the company's server was breached, an internal investigation was launched, and several employees fell under _____________ due to their recent access history. a) scrutiny b) observation c) suspicion d) surveillance e) admiration

  4. Before signing the complex legal document, the lawyer expressed his _____________ regarding a particular clause, advising his client to seek further clarification. a) approval b) misgivings c) enthusiasm d) agreement

  5. The analyst's conflicting statements about the market trends caused significant _____________ among investors, prompting many to question his credibility. a) confidence b) admiration c) doubt d) certainty e) suspicion

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: People did not trust the new software update because of the many technical issues reported by early users. Rewrite using "suspicion" or a related word form: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answers:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. suspicion
  2. skepticism
  3. suspicion
  4. apprehension

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. c) suspicion
  2. c) skepticism, e) speculation
  3. a) scrutiny, c) suspicion
  4. b) misgivings
  5. c) doubt, e) suspicion

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Rewrite: The new software update generated suspicion among users due to the many technical issues reported by early adopters. (Alternatively: The new software update was met with suspicion... / Many users were suspicious of the new software update...)
  2. Rewrite: He was initially regarded as the primary suspect in the corporate espionage case due to his unusual access patterns. (Alternatively: There was initial suspicion that he was the primary individual involved in the corporate espionage case...)
  3. Rewrite: The board voiced its distrust of the CEO's overly optimistic projections, demanding more conservative estimates. (Alternatively: The board expressed its misgivings about the CEO's overly optimistic projections... / The board had serious reservations about the CEO's overly optimistic projections...)

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